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BEST 2025 TRAVEL CAMERAS reviewed: midsize, pocketable, smartphone

Tom Dempsey recommends the following camera gear for on-the-go photographers:

60-MP Sony a7CR full-frame-sensor camera mounted with 7x zoom Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens — 38.5 ounces
In July 2025, I upgraded to the Sony A7CR (read my review) 60-megapixel full-frame-sensor camera mounted with 7x zoom Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens for Sony E-Mount (Amazon) — 38.5 ounces including lens, body, battery, and memory card — the world’s best travel system.

PART A. Top SMARTPHONE CAMERAS

compensate for tiny cameras with ease-of-use, instant photo sharing, good close focus, and vast computational power achieving impressive AUTO HDR (for simultaneous capture of dark shadows and bright highlights). Get the latest most-advanced Pro or Ultra models for superior speed, telephoto, and night mode. Top brands include:

  • Apple iPhone (unlocked, at Amazon) versions 16, 15, 14, 13, 12. Get the latest Pro or Pro Max version, for a good 3x or 5x power optical telephoto, respectively.
  • Samsung Galaxy (unlocked) Ultra models generally match the power of iPhone “Pro Max” models released around the same time. Galaxy Plus models generally correspond to Apple’s “Pro” models.
  • Google Pixel Pro 8 and 9 offer good 5x optical telephoto cameras.

Photographers using Cloud storage can get away with 128GB internal storage on the phone. For business use, Tom prefers 256 or 512GB.

An “unlocked” phone lets you pick a lower-priced wireless service provider and/or install a cheap foreign eSIM (as I did in Japan 2025) or physical SIM card in each country visited (as I did in Japan 2018 and UK). To save money on your USA wireless carrier, consider Consumer Cellular (external link), which accesses AT&T’s complete USA-only network most cheaply while providing top customer support. Get Consumer Cellular’s “all-in-one SIM” from Target stores or via mail, then insert into an unlocked GSM phone and activate with their help. For international roaming capability when away from Wi-fi, I now use Consumer Cellular’s T-Mobile service. With my wife on Consumer Cellular’s AT&T and me on their T-Mobile service, together we broaden our USA coverage.

Off by default, be sure to turn ON your phone’s “Wi-Fi Calling” Setting, which costs nothing extra. Wi-Fi Calls in the USA will be clearer, if cell reception is poor where Wi-Fi is strong. When you are outside of USA, Wi-Fi Calls eliminate roaming charges when calling US phone numbers. While you are roaming, calls made to non-USA numbers are charged per-minute rates by both the foreign and home mobile network operators. When abroad, only use Wi-Fi service to access internet data; turn OFF “Data Roaming” to avoid unexpectedly large bills.

For the best smartphone tripod and mount, attach these together: Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit and Ulanzi ST-27 Metal Phone Tripod Mount Clip

PART B. World’s best POCKETABLE TRAVEL CAMERA

The best and brightest pocketable 8x-zoom camera is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 version VII (2019, 11 oz, RX100M7, Amazon) with 24–200mm f/2.8-4.5 equivalent lens and optimal 1-inch-Type sensor. Read more about the sweet spot for sharp, portable zooms in Tom’s sensors article.

Or save money on its predecessor Sony RX100 version VI (2018, 11 oz, RX100M6, Amazon) — reviewed by Tom.

Accessories at Amazon: ■ Avoid dropping its slippery body by adding Sony AG-R2 attachment grip. ■ Fit into Tamrac Digital 1 Photo Bag with extra Wasabi Power NPBX1 batteries. ■ Avoid LCD scratches with QIBOX Premium GLASS Protector.

Other good pocketable cameras

  1. Panasonic Lumix DSC-ZS100 (2016, 11 oz, 25-250mm equivalent lens f/2.8-5.9). Read Tom’s ZS100 review.
  2. Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 (2018, 12 oz, 24-360mm equivalent lens f/3.3-6.4) outguns all pocket-size 1″-sensor rivals with a versatile 15x zoom, but sibling ZS100 is sharper and brighter through 10x.
  3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 versions IV, III, II, or I: within its limited 3x zoom is sharper and brighter than that sub-range of Panasonic’s 10x-zoom ZS100. Save money with used or earlier III, II or I versions — read Tom’s “Sony RX100 III review.”
  4. Best value pocketable superzoom: Panasonic ZS80 (2019, 11.5 oz, 24–720mm equiv 30x zoom, 20 MP, Electronic ViewFinder/EVF).
  5. Cheaper, tiniest 10x zoom: Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 IS (2016, 5 oz, 24-240mm equivalent, 1/2.3″ sensor, but no viewfinder).

Advancing smartphones have made the smallest pocketable cameras scarcer to find new, so consider a used model.

Weather resistant pocketable cameras

  • OM System (Olympus) Tough TG-7 camera (2023, 9 oz, 25-100mm, f/2.0-4.9 lens) is waterproof, shockproof, and dust-resistant. Beat smartphone image quality by shooting and editing its raw format files, as I did after rafting the Grand Canyon using the earlier TG-4.
  • For hiking in the rain, a waterproof smartphone is a good choice (plus adds topographic tracking via Gaia GPS, AllTrails, or other apps). My Samsung Galaxy Note9 worked great in New Zealand rainforests.
  • Beware that seawater can corrode contacts even on waterproof phones, so a case or a TG-7 is advised. While a cheap CaliCase Universal Waterproof Case can take smartphones snorkeling under seawater, beware that 2 out of 4 copies that I received in 2018 noticeably softened camera resolution due to a milky stain on the already-blurry plastic window.

TIP: As a workaround for sluggish autofocus (AF) in cheaper compact cameras: pre-focus (lock) on a sharply defined edge of the subject by half pressing and holding the shutter button, then the subsequent full press will be instant, ≤ 0.15 second. But half-press autofocus lock doesn’t work in continuous focus or action modes. Don’t let an inferior camera frustrate your capture of action, people, pets, or sports. For surer action shots, upgrade to a newer model with hybrid AF such as pocket-size Panasonic ZS100 or Sony RX100, a midsize Panasonic FZ1000 II, or an interchangeable-lens camera. 

PART C. Best MIDSIZE TRAVEL CAMERA

The world’s best travel system (read Tom’s review) is the Sony a7CR camera (2023, 18.2 oz, price at Amazon) mounted with its sharpest travel lens, the 7x zoom Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (2020, 20.3 oz, Amazon) — 38.5 ounces total including body, lens, battery, and memory card (or 41 ounces when you add the strap, LCD cover, lens filter, lens cap, and hood). The A7CR’s impressive 60-megapixel full-frame-sensor (effective resolution 9504 x 6336 pixels) shot at 200mm can be cropped for wildlife images.

■ To maximize the “sweet spot” sharpness of the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 lens for Sony E-Mount (Amazon), stop down by about two stops from each brightest aperture as you zoom (or double the f-number) — so at 28mm use f/5.6 — at 50mm use f/7 — at 100mm–200mm use f/9
■ Using this lens with Sony A7CR‘s in-body image stabilization (IBIS, sensor-shift technology) rated at 7EV, I can carefully handhold sharp shots as slow as 0.5 seconds shutter speed at 28mm wide — and 1/10th of a second at 200mm telephoto.
■ This lens offers good macro focus — at 28mm, focus as close as 2 inches in front of the lens glass to enlarge subjects as small as 4.3″ by 2.9″. Shooting at f/5.6 will improve sharpness near the edges of the frame — better yet at f/11. At 200mm, you can focus at a useful 24″ working distance to enlarge an area of 5.3″ by 3.6″, but results will be softer than at 28mm.

Full-frame-sensor cameras excel at night, indoor, high ISO sensitivity 6400+, and very-large-print photography. But covering that large sensor area requires heavier glass, thereby restricting practical zoom ranges. When an image is well-shot in bright outdoor light, the advantages of full-frame cameras versus smaller APS-C or 1″-Type sensors (compared here) may only be noticeable upon close inspection when printed bigger than 3 feet diagonally. High megapixel counts such as 33 to 60 MP may seem like overkill for most practical publications, since a billboard only needs 3 to 10 megapixels at typical viewing distances. However, the extra megapixels become important when cropping to increase the reach of sharp digital telephoto.

Smaller, cheaper midsize cameras with 1″-Type sensor

  • Best midsize camera for the money:  Panasonic FZ1000 version II (2019, 28.5 oz with fast-focusing 16x zoom, 25-400mm equivalent f/2.8-4 Leica DC Lens, 20 MP, 1″-Type BSI sensor) rivals the zoom quality of APS-C-sensor and DSLR systems of this weight. The earlier FZ1000 version I has a noisier sensor and poorer LCD screen & EVF. The version II rivals most cameras I used from 1978 through 2015.
  • Travelers may prefer FZ1000 II over the older, heavier Panasonic FZ2500 (2016, 33 oz, 20x zoom 24-480mm f/2.8–4.5, 20 MP, called FZ2000 in some markets). In comparison to the discontinued Sony RX10 III, the Panasonic FZ2500 has a fully articulated LCD with touchscreen, increases viewfinder magnification (EVF 0.74x versus 0.7x), has better menus, and improves video specs (ND filter, Cine/UHD 4K). But FZ2500’s lens collects a half stop less light, lowering image quality; its telephoto doesn’t reach long enough for birders; and its CIPA battery life of 350 shots lags behind RX10III’s 420 shots.

Midsize cameras with APS-C sensor

For travel, Sony’s venerable A6xxx system (such as A6300 reviewed here) has been outgunned by Sony A7CR (new in 2023) with 7x Tamron zoom and by the earlier Sony RX10M4 (new in 2018, discontinued in 2025).

A tiny 1/2.3″-Type sensor allows superzoom ranges in midsize cameras

Tiny, noisy 1/2.3″-Type sensors are leveraged well by smartphones’ superior processing power, but therein mostly limited to wider angles of view. When attached to larger-diameter lenses to collect more light, these little sensors usefully extend zoom range in the following midsize cameras good for wildlife photography:

■ Cheapest: Panasonic Lumix FZ300 (2015, 24.4 oz, 12 MP, bright f/2.8 lens 25-600mm equivalent, 24x zoom range, weather sealed).

■ Nikon COOLPIX P950 (2020, 35 oz, 24–2000mm equivalent 83x zoom lens f/2.8–6.5, 1/2.3″ sensor, 16 MP). Fully articulated LCD. 290 shots per charge. P950 adds a flash hot shoe and can record RAW files (whereas older P900 only captured JPEGs).

■ Nikon COOLPIX P1100 (2025, 50 oz, 16 MP, USB-C port, 24–3000mm equivalent 125x zoom lens f/2.8–8.0 on 1/2.3″ sensor) and nearly identical Nikon COOLPIX P1000 (2018, micro-USB port) —

  • No practical DSLR or rival interchangeable mirrorless lens can reach 3000mm telephoto!
  • Both P1100 and P1000 have 4-stop CIPA-standard image stabilization and fully articulated LCD, but only get 250 shots per charge.
  • As in COOLPIX P950, their tiny 1/2.3″ sensor won’t beat the superior processing power of cellphone cameras unless shooting at telephoto greater than 50mm equivalent, in bright outdoor light. At this tiny sensor size, extra diffraction through the camera’s minuscule aperture degrades image quality.
  • But rival cameras would better cover 24-1000mm; for example, the 1″-sensor Sony RX10M4 (discontinued) shot at 600mm can be digitally cropped by 2x to outshine the P950, P1100, and P1000 up to about 1200mm equivalent. Based upon Nikon P1000 moon photos (Lensrentals.com), compared to my own moon shots on Sony RX10M4 at 600mm-equivalent, shooting the P1000 at 1500-3000mm equivalent may be sharper than digitally cropping RX10M4 to achieve the same angle of view. (Nikon’s “Moon Shot Mode” is JPEG only, no raw.) The comparison requires bright light, as with the sunlit lunar surface; but in dim light, RX10M4 will gain ground.

Cameras made prior to 2018 should be upgraded for better real resolution, lower noise at higher ISO speeds ≥800, and/or quicker autofocus. From 2009–2022, top cameras markedly improved handheld optical image stabilization (branded as Nikon VR, Canon IS, Panasonic OIS, Sigma OS, Tamron VC, Sony OSS & IBIS), largely freeing us from daytime tripod use. The latest cameras capture more highlight and shadow detail by using better sensors plus automatic HDR (high dynamic range) imaging and other optimizations for JPEG files. On advanced models, I always edit raw format images to recover several stops (doublings of brightness) of highlight and shadow detail which would be lost with JPEG.

Tom quit swapping lenses in 2016 — when Sony’s impressive mirrorless designs antiquated DSLR cameras.

Old legacy DSLR-style cameras

feature an optical viewfinder seeing through the lens using a traditional mirror box. This design was superseded by cameras with a mirrorless Electronic Viewfinder / EVF which better portrays the final digital image — achieving “what you see is what you get.” Read my archive article for tips on legacy DSLR cameras and lenses.

RECOMMENDED PHOTO PRINTERS | SCANNERS | MONITOR

The 13-inch-wide Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 Printer with ten pigmented inks is excellent for photographers.

The 8.5-inch-wide Canon PIXMA TR8620 Multi-function Printer is an excellent value for a one-person office, with five ink colors including pigmented black, accepting paper from small media up to Legal 8.5×14-inches. (TR8620a initially costs less but ink cartridges cost about 20% more). Adding photo blue ink in the following model achieves slightly better color accuracy, but it’s hardly perceptible and costs more for ink usage: Canon PIXMA TS8320 combines a pigment-based black ink with dye-based cyan, magenta, yellow, “photo black” and photo blue inks.

SCANNERS: Pacific Image PowerSlide X: Batch scan 50 film slides, up to 10,000 dpi, excellent dynamic range of 4.2, with critically important Magic Touch infrared dust and scratch removal (ICE). Or Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE scanner (2014) reincarnates your slides & film digitally, with important infrared/ICE removal of dust & scratches.

MONITOR: ASUS PA328Q 32″ 16:9 4K/UHD IPS Monitor, nicely precalibrated at the factory, has served me well since 2017.

RECOMMENDED CAMERA ACCESSORIES

  • Apple Photos (for iOS & MacOS) easily organizes photos for free on Apple devices — but be sure to add critical adjustment brushes with Google’s free yet powerful Snapseed app (for iOS, MacOS, Android, and Windows).
  • Adobe “20GB Photography Plan” — I rely on Lightroom Classic (LRC) to organize and edit 200,000+ photos stored on my Windows PC (consuming 5 terabytes, which would be way too large for Adobe Cloud). The included Photoshop helps build trickier panoramas, complex Layers, or CMYK color space for book publishing. I don’t use the less-powerful LR, the cloud-based version of Adobe Lightroom with its 20GB cloud. LR and LRC can both radically speed tonal editing, adjustment-brushing, cropping, organizing, sorting, and labeling of images.
  • Adobe “1TB Photography Plan” — is cheaper and uses the simpler Lightroom (LR) app to manage up to 1 terabyte (TB) of storage in the Adobe Cloud, accessible across multiple devices.

TIPS for travel in adverse conditions

  1. Weather & dust protection: Prudent bagging can avoid the extra expense of a weather-sealed body & lens – keep a camera handy, safely in a front pouch on your chest or hip (where it can be retrieved more quickly than from a pack on your back). Adverse fluctuations of temperature & humidity, or dusty conditions, or sea spray all require cameras to be double-protected in a zip-lock plastic bag inside the padded pouch (Amazon). Use a soft, absorbent silk cloth to wipe away moisture or dust from lens & body before bagging.
  2. Cold batteries: Using camera batteries (price at Amazon) below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (or 4 Celsius) loses their charge quicker, causing camera shut down or lock. Revive and extend battery life in cold or below-freezing weather by warming an extra battery or two in an interior pocket near your skin and swapping with the camera’s battery after every 5-10 minutes of cold exposure.
  3. Satellite communication: Stay in touch everywhere in the world via Iridium satellite with a 3.5-ounce Garmin InReach Mini 2 (Amazon): send and receive 160-character text messages with GPS coordinates (accurate to five meters) to cell numbers or email addresses worldwide and post updates to social media. Tom found it valuable for texting with his wife while backpacking. Good battery life. This affordable technology connects campers, hikers, hunters, backpackers, alpinists, and backcountry skiers who often venture outside of cell phone networks. Messages are easy to read on the Mini 2. But Smartphone connection via Bluetooth is required for a faster keyboard and smoother interface, as the Mini 2 screen and menus are otherwise very slow for typing characters. While charging, the Garmin disconnects from the smartphone. The month-to-month “Freedom – Recreation” plan is $34.95/month, which can be paused as desired to save money in ensuing months (unlimited SOS, 40 text messages/month both sent & received then 0.50 overage per text, unlimited preset messages set up on website, unlimited 10-minute tracking). You only pay for active months plus an annual $34.95 activation fee on the anniversary of initial activation into Freedom Plans. In case of SOS, info is shared with Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center. 24/7 monitoring & emergency dispatch benefit is available to anyone using your inReach. Compared to Mini 1, version 2 uses a quicker chip set and more satellites (Multi-GNSS, over 100).

What makes an ideal travel camera? The “best” travel camera is the one you want to carry everywhere. For many people, a smartphone is sufficient — so get a Pro, Pro Max, or Ultra model with the best telephoto reach. But a larger camera will better magnify distant subjects. A sharp optical zoom lens should magnify the field of view by a factor of 7x to 25x to rapidly frame diverse subjects, without the bulk or annoyance of swapping lenses.

The best travel cameras should MINIMIZE bulk and weight while MAXIMIZING sensor dimensions (read article), zoom range, lens diameter, battery life ( ≥ 350 shots), and ISO sensitivity (for lower noise in dim light). Lenses should autofocus fast (with hybrid AF minimizing shutter lag ≤ 0.3 second), optically stabilize images, and focus closely (for good macro enlargement). Travel cameras should pop up a built-in flash and also flip out (articulate, hinge, or swivel) a high-resolution display screen to jump-start your creative macro, movie and candid shooting at arm’s length. OLED displays usually outshine LCD. Sunny-day reflections often obscure display-screen visibility − but to save bulk, most pocket cameras lack a viewfinder. A camera with a brilliant electronic viewfinder (preferably EVF with ≥ 1 million dots) gives superior live feedback on the final digital image than a non-digital optical viewfinder.

Terminology and metric conversions

  • oz = ounces — the above camera weights in ounces (oz) include battery and memory card.
  • g = grams — multiply ounces by 28.35 to get grams
  • mm = millimeters | 10 millimeters = 1 centimeter (cm) | multiply centimeters (cm) by 0.3937 to get inches
  • ILC = Interchangeable Lens Compact = “midsize mirrorless camera” term used on Photoseek.com
  • DSLR = Digital Single Lens Reflex = a traditional camera where an optical viewfinder uses a mirror to see through an interchangeable lens
  • EVF = Electronic Viewfinder
  • OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) consumes less power and beats an LCD in dynamic range from darkest to brightest.
  • LCD = Liquid Crystal Display
  • MP = megapixel = a million pixels
  • equivalent lens = To compare lenses on cameras having different sensor sizes, equiv or equivalent lens refers to what would be the lens focal length (measured in mm or millimeters) that would give the same angle of view on a “full frame” 35mm-size sensor (or 35mm film camera, using 135 film cartridge).
    • Compared lenses are equivalent only in terms of angle of view. (To determine sharpness or quality, read lens reviews which analyze at 100% pixel views.)
    • Crop factor = how many times smaller is the diagonal measurement of a small sensor than a “full frame” 35-mm size sensor. For example, the 1.5x crop factor for Nikon DX format (APS-C size sensor) makes a lens labeled 18-200mm to be equivalent in angle of view to a 27-300mm focal length lens used on a 35mm film camera. The 2x crop factor for Micro Four Thirds sensors makes a lens labeled 14-140mm to be equivalent in angle of view to a 28-280mm lens used on a 35mm film camera.
  • 10x zoom range = a zoom lens’ telephoto focal length divided by its wide angle focal length in mm. For example, a 14-140mm focal length zoom has a 10x zoom range (140 divided by 14). An 18-200mm zoom has an 11x zoom range (200 divided by 18).
  • equivalent F-stop = refers to the F-stop (F-number) on a full-frame-sensor camera which has the same hole diameter as the F-stop of the camera lens being compared. The concept of “equivalent” F-stop lets you compare capabilities for creating shallow depth of field on cameras with different-size sensors. Smaller-sensor cameras use shorter focal lengths for the same field of view, so at a given F-stop they have a smaller physical aperture size, meaning more depth of field (with less blur in front of and behind the focused subject). Formula: F Number (or Relative Aperture) = actual focal length of lens divided by diameter of the entrance pupil.

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28 thoughts on “BEST 2025 TRAVEL CAMERAS reviewed: midsize, pocketable, smartphone”

  1. David Burckhard
    Reply

    I agree with your thoughts on the Nikon DX line of cameras. I believe they and the lenses designed from them represent the best image quality to price ratio in the market. I have (too many) types of cameras but have the luxury of selecting what I bring on whatever type of location and coverage I visit. I love my tiny point-and-shoots, my advanced point-and-shoots. and all the way up to my full-frame DSLRs. I regularly shoot on one-inch sensors, micro four thirds, APS-C, and full frame even as I shoot a whole bunch on my iPhone. I love the ability to choose exactly the kit I want for any excursion. I’ll bring my OM-D camera with a wide-ranging travel zoom on a bike ride, I’ll bring my 1-inch sensor point-and-shoot for park walks with my family. I like my APS-C camera with three zoom on short hikes or the same body with a fast prime on evening walks in the city. Of course, when it’s a money shoot, it’s gonna be my full-frame with a bag full of lenses.
    Horses for courses.

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